Phil SumblerThe Swans are back in action this evening when they visit the New Den to take on Millwall knowing that a massive improvement in performance is needed from the one that saw us outplayed by Luton at the Liberty on Saturday.
One of the things about football in a post-lockdown world is that games come thick and fast and that will prove to either be to our advantage or count against us as we head in search of the win that will at least keep alive our dwindling play off hopes.
Clinging to the play off hopes is a bare minimum at the moment to at least prevent us falling into a period where we end up going through the motions for the remaining matches with the full reality effectively that we are destined for a season in the Championship.
Steve Cooper has already hinted at changes for the game, some forced on him by the frequency of the games added in with the necessary changes needed because of the nature of the weekend performance.
So, there’s an opportunity now. We’d have used the squad anyway because of the nature of the schedule.
“My job is to select a squad on a matchday that is 100 per cent committed to the mindset that is needed. We had that at the weekend, but didn’t show it. – Steve Cooper
The Swans will of course be without Jordan Garrick after the player’s moment of madness on Saturday but we could well welcome back Joe Rodon after his injury. There could also be a potential start for both Kyle Naughton and George Byers as the Swans seem certain to ring the changes and surely we have to see Cooper bring back Bersant Celina after his total emission from Saturday’s matchday squad.
“We’re going into a unique period,” said the Swans boss.
“We’ll be playing every few days and sometimes that can happen in the Championship where you play three in a week or six in a month, but there’s normally a rest after it.
“This isn’t the case. There will have to be a bit of planning in terms of rotation.”
Millwall have picked up just one point from six since the season resumed but know that a win against the Swans will see them leapfrog us and keep alive their own fading play off hopes.
The game at the New Den kicks off at 5pm.
Expectations are lower than Hope’s for this one , a draw is the best I can see from this match. Millwall are physical and organised , everything we struggle against they have in bucketfulls . Cant see past a 1-0 defeat or 0-0 draw ?
Sadly for me,all my enthusiasm is gone not helped by the appalling virtue signalling prior to games and the rank hypocrisy of players.
This season should have been voided,as was the Eredivisie.Netherlands made the correct call whereas our greedy PL wanted to continue whatever the cost. So what if Liverpool didnt win the Prem.Just how is that relevant in any way shape or form.Haven’t won it for 30 yrs? That was quite possibly the main reason ,given LFCs power in the punditry.The result of this could well be an imminent second wave ,as with Leicester, and all because Liverpool fans saw fit to simply chummy up in their thousands putting everyone else’s lives at risk from this disease.That is what football is about now. As for tonight, meh.
When do crowds return? Its a clear choice between life and possibly death. Good luck with any government opening up stadia.
Sport is ok ,as are plays,films,live shows but are they worth dying for.?
Its what we should all be considering
Great post. I like you. Do you actually live in Toronto?
@darran No,but Ive been there a couple of times and support the Leafs when they are playing anyway
@toronto_motors Tidy,my wife was born there. Nice place.
@psumbler – The Swans are back in action this evening when they visit the New Den to take on Millwall knowing that a massive improvement in performance is needed from the one that saw us outplayed by Luton at the Liberty on Saturday.How many times, this season, have we head that.If you can’t motivate your team on the brink of a play-off place against the team at the bottom of the table some serious thinking needs to be given about the manager and coaching staff.
@badlands
This is true but them up the road must be mightily pi$$ed off they did not win today.
They could have put us right out of the frame with the only worry being Preston.
Millwall can’t be too chuffed either.
We can still dream, never mind how futile….
I’m getting the same pleasure out of watching us play now as I did when Clement was in charge. The lack of ambition in the way the team plays, the lack of inspiration coming from the bench and the lack of anything from the players other than the desire to take as few risks as possible is almost uncannily similar.
At the moment I can only see it ending in much the same way.
@dr-winston or even a John Hollins team… ??
but at least he was effective at getting 1-0 wins ??♂️ So maybe not ?
At least under Hollins you could see we were playing to a plan. A boring one, but effective.A year into the job I doubt most people could tell you what Cooper was trying to achieve with the team other than to make certain players as undroppable as others were disposable.
They seem to be playing with handcuffs on lately, the start of the season we were playing effective football without blowing everyone out of the water, but 7 wins in 8 is highly impressive, the problem is he has focused too heavily on mistakes and structure which has limited our flair that we had in abundance under Potter.
Effective football is usually played with smiles on the players faces, not looking scared concerned, how the hell did this guy win a World Cup? Probably because there was no pressure on a very special group of young players…
I wouldn’t say we had an abundance of flair under Potter (we were quite dull to watch at times then too) but there was a sense of progress being made. Of a set of ideals being put in place that would see us right eventually.All I’m getting out of Cooper is a guy promoted out of his depth from a much easier job on the basis of an excellent Powerpoint presentation who is struggling like f*ck when presented with the realities of his situation.Some people thrive under pressure. Others sink like the Titanic in lead lined boots. At the moment Cooper seems destined for the ocean floor.
@dr-winston at least our players played with more freedom under Potter, yes we did go through a phase of finding our way/ steadying the ship and Potter getting to know his squad which took some patience at times, like you said we were going somewhere, had a clear philosophy and direction, all of that has been eroded very quickly by Cooper, we have become too scared of losing, of taking a chance, moving the ball too quickly, everything now seems more slower and deliberate in comparison, almost unnatural to them, the transitions are not smooth anymore., this is a fear of failure embedded into the mindset of our players and has a negative effect on performance levels.
i asked a top renowned international rugby coach once “what makes a great coach” ? he said immediately… “when your plans are going wrong, identifying it and know how to put them right” ?
sounds simple enough??♂️ If Cooper could just identify “what’s going wrong” he could ask someone how to put it right ???
I hope his lead lined shoes don’t take us down with him ???